Oscar Pistorius celebrated his 30th birthday in a new, more comfortable jail as his family insist “some amazing things are happening for him”.

The shamed athlete last month won his claim to be moved from to a newly-refurbished, “more relaxed” prison, aimed at “low risk, non violent offenders” and disabled inmates, where he is surrounded by acres of lush gardens and trees.

As part of his rehabilitation programme, Pistorius will be expected to grow vegetables and work in the orchards, according to a top lawyer with knowledge of the prison.

“It is the ideal place for Oscar,” a family source revealed. “It is all on one level, so he can move around easily, and the bathroom facilities are now much less dangerous for him.

“There are some worthwhile programmes of all kinds on offer and some amazing things are happening for him. He is in the ideal place for where he needs to be at the moment.”

Last week, the South African double amputee – who is serving six years for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – quietly marked his landmark birthday at Atteridgeville Correctional Centre, in Pretoria, where bags of cards and letters arrived.

Many of them were sent to his family who live only a few miles away.

The prison, which has undergone a multi-million pound facelift and boasts upgraded bathrooms for disabled inmates, is described as “more family like atmosphere” by defence lawyer Llewellyn Curlewis, who visits regularly.